End of Event Survey

          

• Which hour was most daunting for you? Hour 1. I started with a book I had previously been unable to finish. I may need to re-evaluate that strategy in April. Unfinished books are a great idea for the readathon tbr pile. Books that I am unable to finish because reading them is like plodding through the densest forest only to be trapped in quicksand = not a good idea.

• Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? The Vegetarian by Han Kang, Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman.

• Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next season? I like that there are many platforms on which to participate, but it would be very nice if for one hour everyone posted on one platform. The actual website would be nice since everyone doesn't use Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Litsy, or Pinterest.

• What do you think worked really well in this year’s Read-a-thon? The Facebook group worked very well this year.  Veteran readathoners and first-timers both seemed to enjoy the platform. 

• How many books did you read? I read two books.

• What were the names of the books you read? I read The Noticer by Andy Andrews, and Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman.

• Which book did you enjoy most? Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik BackmanWhich did you enjoy least? The Noticer by Andy Andrews.

• How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? What role would you be likely to take next time? I will most likely participate again. I like being a reader and a cheerleader. At some point in my readathon career, I would like to write a warm-up post, and host a mini-challenge.

Mid- Event Survey

1. What are you reading right now? I am reading Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman

2. How many books have you read so far? Two

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon? Black Panther and A Wind in the Door by Madeleine L'Engle

4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? I have today off from work, but I've still had far too many interruptions for my liking. I dealt with the interruptions by  dealing with work "emergencies" as quickly as possible and returning to readathon land.

5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? I am most surprised by my slow reading pace this readathon. I am enjoying readathon as always, but I am reading much more slowly.

Dewey's 24 Hour Readathon - October 2016

Opening Event Questions

What fine part of the world are you reading from today? 

I am reading from Denver, Colorado United States of America.

Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? 

I have several stacks; fiction, non-fiction, young adult, middle grade, audio, and graphic novels. I am looking forward to books from each stack, but I think the book I am most looking forward to this year readathon is Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman

Which snack are you most looking forward to?

I am most looking forward to wasabi flavored nori.

Tell us a little something about yourself? 

My bio pretty much says it all. I am a Christian Friend, former educator, reference librarian, and labyrinth walker.

If you participated in the last readathon, what's one thing you'll do differently today? 

Today I am reading away from home. Last year, I introduced a friend to the wonderful world of readathon. She stayed at my home and we had a readathon/slumber party minus the slumber. This year, she is hosting the party. I packed an overnight bag, must-have snacks (tuna fish, crackers, hot spiced apple cider), and two bags of books. 1 graphic novel, 2 audiobooks, and 18 print books. One huge perk of reading with a friend is double the stacks of books.

One Small Step Can Change Your Life... Library Style

One of my small steps for the month of October has been to update my top 3 most used resources.

1. When you have a student who needs to research a topic: Dewey Digger "Explore knowledge via the Dewey Decimal Classification"

2. For the customer who has read every cozy mystery that you recommend and your mind is now completely blank : cozy-mystery.com

3.  Need practical professional development, but you don't have much time: 5 minute Librarian "All you need to know in the time you have."

The 4th Quarter

I, like many, get excited for the first day of a new month. I like the idea of a fresh start, new beginnings and all of that, but the first day of October reminds me not only of beginnings, but also of endings, and the importance of both.

I am a basketball fan. I am a Knicks fan! One thing I love about the game of basketball is the intensity of the 4th Quarter. A team can play well for the first 3 quarters of the game, but if they don't come out with a game plan and finish strong that final quarter they can lose the game. Conversely, a team can struggle through the beginning of a game, but come out in the 4th quarter prepared to put in work, and finish the game strong to get a win. Both teams know this. Forget the fat lady and her songs, it is not over until that buzzer sounds.

New York Knicks v. Milwaukee Bucks, 1972 
Led by Oscar Robertson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, the Bucks held an 18-point lead in Madison Square Garden with about six minutes to go. With no three-point line, the Knicks clawed their way back for a one-point win. The Knicks have heart. Did I mention that I am a Knicks fan?

The fourth quarter of the calendar year is October through December. Today, October 1st, is day one of the final quarter of 2016. I am prepared to finish strong. I have my plan - my 17 goals and tasks to complete before 2017. I have my team - my heavenly Father, my faith community, my #GirlTrek sisters. I have heart.

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon End of Event Survey

Which hour was most daunting for you? 

Hours 23 and 24 were the most daunting for me. I must have read the same page five times. This happened on more than one occasion.

Could you list a few high-interest books that you think could keep a Reader engaged for next year? 

Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova

Between The World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan

Do you have any suggestions for how to improve the Read-a-thon next season?The Read-a-thon was fantastic as always. I think one thing that could make it better next time would be to have all of the mini-challenges hosted on sites that all participants can access (not Facebook). 

What do you think worked really well in this year's Read-a-Thon? I think the Facebook group went very well (just not for mini-challenges) It was a great forum for veteran Read-a-thoners and newbies to gather and share the excitement of Read-a-thon, exchange tips, and offer words of encouragement.

How many books did you read? I read four books.

          

 

What were the names of the books you read?

Awkward by Svetlana Chmakova

Between The World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates

Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson

Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan

Which book did you enjoy most? I enjoyed all of my books. Roller Girl is the book that made me laugh out loud on numerous occasions.

Which book did you enjoy least? I enjoyed all of my books very much.

How likely are you to participate in the Read-a-thon again? I am already planning my October 2016 Read-a-thon.

What role would you be likely to take next time? I plan to participate as a Cheerleader and a Reader.

Dewey 24 Hour Readathon Mid-Event Survey

Mid-Event Survey:

1. What are you reading right now? 

I just finished reading Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson. It was a thoroughly enjoyable read and I can see why it made ALA's  Top Ten Popular Paperbacks list.

2. How many books have you read so far? 

I have read two books so far. I read Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan, and Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson.

3. What book are you most looking forward to for the second half of the Read-a-thon?

I am most looking forward to reading Between The World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates.

4. Have you had many interruptions? How did you deal with those? 

I haven't had any interruptions.

5. What surprises you most about the Read-a-thon, so far? 

This year I decided to start my read-a-thon with a 600 page, 10.5 hour audiobook. I am surprised by how well that strategy worked for me. I was able to ease into the read-a-thon day, with a cup of tea and very little sleep, with minimal complications.

Dewey's 24 Hour Read-a-thon - Opening Meme

Opening Meme

What fine part of the world are you reading from today? 

I am reading from Denver, Colorado United States of America.

Which book in your stack are you most looking forward to? 

I have several stacks; fiction, non-fiction, young adult, middle grade, audio, and graphic novels. I am looking forward to books from each stack, but I think the book I am most looking forward to this year readathon is The Good and Beautiful God: Falling in Love with the God Jesus Knows by James Bryan Smith.

Which snack are you most looking forward to?

I am most looking forward to some tart green apples with creamy peanut butter.

Tell us a little something about yourself? 

My bio pretty much says it all. I am a Christian Friend, former educator, reference librarian, and labyrinth walker.

If you participated in the last read-a-thon, what's one thing you'll do differently today? 

In the past, I have always tried to read straight through until I reached my limit and gave in to physical exhaustion. This year I plan to take scheduled breaks for walks and snacks. I think this strategy will help me be more alert in those final hours.

Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah

Disability does not mean inability.

One person can change the world.

"In this world, we are not perfect. We can only do our best." Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah

Finding Winnie The True Story of the World's Most Famous Bear

"Sometimes," I said, "you have to let one story end so the next one can begin.

"How do you know when that will happen?"

"You don't," I said. "Which is why you should always carry on."

Truth in Fiction - Dumplin' by Julie Murphy

"All my life I've had a body worth commenting on and if living in my skin has taught me anything it's that if it's not your body, it's not yours to comment on. Fat. Skinny. Short. Tall. It doesn't matter." ~Willowdean p. 33

" I think maybe it's the things we don't want to talk about that are the things people most want to hear." ~ Willowdean p. 182

"I don't know. I think you gotta be who you want to be until you feel like you are whoever it is you're trying to become. Sometimes half of doing something is pretending that you can." ~ Mitch p. 239

regarding labels - "It's like the whole world has to walk around with name tags on so we can all feel more comfortable? I guess things are less scary if you know what to call them." ~ Hannah p. 309

Truth in Fiction - All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

I'm still here, and I'm grateful, because otherwise I would be missing this. Sometimes it's good to be awake.
~Finch p. 42

Water is peaceful. I am at rest. in the water, I am safe and pulled in where I can't get out. Everything slows down - the noise and the racing of my thoughts. ~Finch p. 106

I'm up the rest of the night making a list called "How to Stay Awake" There's the obvious -Red Bill, caffeine, NoDoz and other drugs - but this isn't about skipping a couple hours' sleep, it's about staying up and staying here for the long haul.
1. Run
2. Write (this includes any thoughts I don't want to have - write them out fast so they're out of me and on the paper).
3. Along those lines, accept any and all thoughts (don't be afraid of them no matter what they are).
4. Surround myself with water.
5. Plan
6. Drive anywhere and everywhere, even when there's nowhere to go. (Note: There's always somewhere to go.)
7. Plat guitar.
8. Organize room, notes, thoughts. (This is different from planning.)
9. Do whatever it takes to remind myself that I'm still here and have a say.
10. Violet

You have to live your life like you'll never be sorry. It's easier just to do the right thing from the start so there's nothing to apologize for. ~Finch p.129

Before I die I want to Play guitar like Jimmy Page. Come up with a song that will change the world. Find the Great Manifesto. Count for something. Be the person I'm meant to be and have that be enough. Know what it's like to have a best friend. Matter. ~Finch p.135

Before I die I want to stop being afraid. Stop thinking too much. Fill the holes left behind. Drive again. Write. Breathe. ~Violet p.135

I know life well enough to know you can't count on things staying around or standing still, no matter how much you want them to. ~Finch p.139

Better to keep the unhappy, mad, bad, unpleasant words separate, where you can watch them and make sure they don't surprise you when you're not expecting them. ~ Finch in response to Decca removing negative words from books. (Think tabloids) p.166

"Growth itself contains the germ of happiness."Pearl S. Buck ~Violet brainstorming ideas for her new blog, Germ  p.190

"Well, Robert Jordan knows he's going to die. 'There is only now', he says, 'and if now is only two days, then two days your life and everything in it will be in proportion.' None of us knows how long we have , maybe another month, maybe another fifty years - I like living as if I only have that two days." ~ Finch p. 194

Sometimes, things feel true to us even if they're not. ~ Finch p. 195

The thing I know about bipolar disorder is that it's a label. One you give crazy people. ~Finch p. 271

Actually I am, which is part of the problem; we are all alone, trapped in these bodies and our own minds, and whatever company we have in this life is only fleeting and superficial. ~Finch p. 272 In response to being told, "you are not alone."

All I know is what I wonder: Which of my feelings are real? Which of the mes is me? ~ Finch p.315

What a terrible feeling to love someone and not be able to help them. ~Violet p.349

If I think about him, he won't be completely gone either. Just because they're dead, they don't have to be. ~ Violet p.361

The thing I realize is that it's not what you take, it's what you leave. ~Violet p. 376

Truth in Fiction The Woman Who Walked in Sunshine by Alexander McCall Smith

"She gazed at her husband. Being loved and admired by a man like that - and she knew that this man, this mechanic, this fixer of machines with their broken hearts, did indeed love and admire her - was like walking in the sunshine; it gave the same feeling of warmth and pleasure to bask in the love of one who has promised it, publicly at a wedding ceremony, and who is constant in his promise that such love will be given for the rest of his days." page 116


"Lies can sometimes be as powerful as the truth , Mma. A lie about somebody can hurt that person even if everybody knows it's a lie."

Truth in Fiction Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

I felt the way you do the instant before you leap into the deep end of a pool.
You're on your way somewhere else. You're not there yet. But you know there's no turning back. Jackson p.5


You can be mad at someone and still love them with all your heart.  Dad p.98

My parents didn't have any work scheduled that day, so we headed to the public library to kill time and wash up. Jackson p.106

We stayed at the library most of the day. The librarian in the children's department even shared her sandwich with Robin and me. She had Ritz crackers, too, and she gave all of those to Robin.

After that, Robin decided that she was going to be a librarian when she grew up. If the animal scientist thing doesn't work out, I might become a librarian too.  Jackson p.107

I knew he was there and that was enough .
Sometimes that's all you really need from a friend.